2017 GABBY AWARDS HONOREES

The 2017 Gabby Awards honorees are amongst the continent's most dynamic leaders in various fields, all with one thing in common: their impact not only professionally, but on society around them. Truly "Greek America's Best and Brightest Stars," our honorees embody the very ideals of our foundation: education, philanthropy, entrepreneurialism, creativity, philotimo and the pursuit of excellence.

DANIALLE KARMANOSDetroit, Michigan

As the founder of Danialle Karmanos' Work It Out, her efforts have introduced yoga, nutrition programs-- and safe sanctuaries-- for thousands of inner city kids in Detroit, taking them off the streets and into safe, loving environments . Her tireless philanthropy and activism on behalf of young people has impacted an entire region by addressing core problems associated with youth development. After the birth of her four boys twins Socrates and Leonidas, Spiros and Aristides Kyros— hand in hand and without pain and medication, she and her husband Peter established the Karmanos Center for Natural Childbirth at Beaumont Hospital to offer expectant moms a natural alternative for childbirth. As a result of Danielle’s advocacy, she’s changing the way children are born in the region by creating a safe and natural environment for moms and their families.

MARIE BOUNTROGIANNI Toronto, Ontario

As a member of parliament and cabinet minister she championed the cause of marginalized people in society and worked tirelessly to offer them the rights they deserved by the government. Her work and crafting of legislation in Ontario with refugees, minorities and people with disabilities has been enshrined into law and has been recognized internationally. As Dean of the Chang School at Ryerson University in Toronto, she’s become one of the world’s foremost educational innovators, making education accessible to more people.

NITZIA LOGOTHETIS New York, NY

Named recently as one of Town & Country Magazine's top 50 Philanthropists, this trained psychotherapist with advanced degrees in child development and counseling for mental health and wellness, has built the Seleni Institute into a global model of support for women with postpartum disorders and helps to destigmatize and transform mental health and wellness to thousands of people by addressing real-life issues that challenge the emotional health of women, men, and their families.

Known affectionately as the "Georgetown Cupcake sisters," Katherine and Sophie have baked their way into America's hearts and kitchens. While running a successful chain of bakeries in New York City, Washington DC, Atlanta, Boston and Beverly Hills— where fans sometimes wait in line for hours for a cupcake, they've become reality TV sweethearts with their popular show DC Cupcakes and published two best-selling cookbooks. They have always maintained philanthropy as a central core of their business. Operation Cupcake ships thousands of cupcakes to U.S. troops overseas and every year they support numerous charities.

LINDA AND SUSANNA MANZIARIS Toronto, Ontario

While still in high school this dynamic Sisters duo launched a charity called Girls Helping Girls and have already built schools in faraway places like Jamaica, Afghanistan and Africa. Their work has empowered thousands of young girls throughout the world with hope and the tools needed for them to build a better life and simultaneously a better world around them.

GEORGE STROMPOLOS Los Angeles, CA

Considered one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, George got his start as a co-creator of YouTube's Partner Program, launching the way for thousands of new stars on line and giving people the ability to build massive online audiences. Today, his company Fullscreen is one of the world's largest online content producers with over 40,000 channels and a whopping 8 billion monthly views-- more than most mainstream networks and film studios combined. Still, George finds time to organize hack-a-thons and projects to help disenfranchised young people get connected to the internet and become empowered story-tellers online.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

ANDREW E. MANATOS Washington DC

As one of Washington DC’s most politically-connected and powerful people, Andy Manatos has not only set numerous records in the policymaking process of the U.S. government on behalf of clients, but his extensive work has also benefited Greece, Cyprus, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek American community in an immeasurable way with countless hours of pro bono work. Manatos was the youngest Presidential advance man for President Lyndon Johnson and the youngest Assistant Secretary in the Carter Administration. Since then he’s built an impressive portfolio of accomplishments, including successfully organizing the annual White House Greek Independence Day Celebration.

ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

GLYKERIA Athens, Greece

One of Greece's most prolific singer of our entire generation, Glykeria has performed in front of global audiences in dozens of nation's throughout the world, always carrying her message of peace and harmony amongst people, as well as a care and concern for Greece's musical heritage. As a longtime champion of the Greek America Foundation, she performed at the 2009 and 2011 Gabby Awards and helped kickstart the awards into the national and international prominence they share today.

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER George Chakiris

George Chakiris made his film debut in 1947 in the chorus of Song of Love. For several years he appeared in small roles, usually as a dancer or a member of the chorus in various musical films. He was one of the dancers in Marilyn Monroe's "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953. After years of hard work and dedication to his craft, his biggest success came with the 1961 film West Side Story, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Bernardo. Chakiris will be honored on stage by a new generation of young Greek American singers, dancers and actors for whom he has served as an inspiration and role model.